Counterbalancing means for pumping apparatus



COUNTERBALANCING MEANS FOR PUMPING APPARATUS L. KEIM Filed Aug. 16. 1928 INVENTOR Patented July 23, 1929.

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TESTER KEIM, OF IASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 OIL WELL SUPPLY GOM- PAIQ'Y, OF PITTSBURGH, FENNSYLVANIA, A CQRE'OEATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COUNTERBALANCING MEANS FOR PUMPING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 16, 1928. Serial No. 299,959.

My invention relates to counterbalancing means for pumping apparatus of the character employed in the oil fields, such apparatus including a walking beam and a pitman, and other operating parts designed for use in pumping oil from wells.

I am, of course, aware that counter-weights have heretofore been employed in connectlon with apparatus of the character stated; for example, weights have been placed on crankshafts, band wheels, and supported means carried by the walking beam. Such pr or constructions, however, have proven unsat sfactory in many respects, as, for example, 1n not providing uniform balanclng conditions, in being in the way of the pumping equipment and the rigging, and running into excessive cost.

The prime object of my invention is to provide a counter-weight construction of a simple and durabletype, designed to act 1n conjunction with the movement of the pitman for efi'e'ctin the desired balance.

Other ob ects of the present invention are, to provide in a counter-weight construction, a counter-weight comprising a plurality of interlocking elements of such character that they may be readily positioned in and removed from operative position, and means enabling the counter-weight to rotate with the pitman while being supported from the walking beam.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, which 1 illustrate an application of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, showing a portion of a walking beam, a band wheel, a crank, and a pitman, with a counter-weight construction embodying my invention shown in connection therewith;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a part elevational view and a part sectional view, the section being taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV1V of Fig. 3, showing the manner of positioning the counter-weight element relativelyto the pitman and the counter-weight supports; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 1, particularly showing the supporting plate for the counter-weight.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a wheel of a pumping equipment, for example, the band wheel, 6a crank arm carried on a shaft 7 and having a Wrist-pin 9, the latter being designed to be entered in a wrist-pin receiving box 10 attached to the lower end of a pit-man 11. All of the parts above enumeratcd may be of the usual or any preferred construction. As shown, the pitman is of I-beam form, and at its upper end is provided with a stirrup 12 for attachment to the walking beam 13. 14 designates a wear plate upon which the stirrup bears. I

Positioned over the stirrup and secured to the end of the walking beam by bolts 15, is a saddle structure 16. This saddle is formed with a central transversely extending ortion 17 adapted to receive a portion 18 of t 1e stirrup and with projecting trunnions 19 at each end of portion 17. I

Carried by the saddle and pivotally mounted on the trunnions 19 and extending in a direction parallel with the walking beam, I provide two straps or bars 20 each formed with end apertures 21 having the walls thereof threaded to receive the threaded ends 22 of weight guiding and supporting rods 23. These rods 23 are preferably bent rods as best shown by Fig. 3, and extend downwardly from the respective straps 20 to a bottom weight supporting plate 24, the latter being provided with bosses 25 through which the lower threaded ends of the rods 23 slightly project for the purpose of receiving fastening nuts 26.

The preferred form of counterweight, indicated generally by the numeral 27, comprises a plurality of interlocking split weight elements 28, each formed with a pair of,rod receiving slots 29 and with cut-away portions 30, the walls of the said cut-away portions being designed to surround the pitman when orby removing one or more of the said elements.

Plate 24 in addition to the bosses is formed a with a central 'pitman receiving opening 32.

and with several depending'\apertured lugs 33 through which adjusting screws 34 are passed and operate to adjustably and securely center the said plate relatively to the pitman.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved counter-weight construction is designed to swing, rotate, or move with the pitman, but the pitman does not carry the weight; the weight being carried the walking beam; this construction provides an efficient and uniform balancing condition for the parts of the pumping apparatus.

I claim:

1. The combination with a walking beam, of a pitman connected with the walking beam, 9. counterweight associated and movable with the pit-man, and means for supporting the counterweight from the walking beam.

2. The combination with a walking beam, of a pitman connected with the walking beam, a counterweight embracing and movable with the pitman, and means for supporting the counterweight from the walking beam independent of the pitman.

3. The combination with a walking beam, of a pitman connected with the Walking beam, a counterweight embracing and movable with the pitman, means for centering the counterweight relatively to the pitman, and means for supporting the counterweight from the walking beam independently of the pitman.

4. The combination with a walking beam, of a pitman connected with the walking pivotall mounted vertically depending rods passed t rough the counterweight.

5. The combination with a walking beam,

of a pitman connected with the walking beam, a counterweight including a plurality of weight elements embracing the pitman and movable therewith, said weight elements having interlocking means, means for supporting the weight elements from the walking beam independent of the pitman, said means including a plurality of pivotally mounted depending rods passed through the counterweight, and means for adjustably centering the counterweight relatively to the pitman.

6. The combination with a walking beam, of a pitman connected with the walking beam, a counterweight including a plurality of interlocking weight elements having openings therein to permit said elements to be positioned around the pitman, a plurality of pivotally mounted rods for supporting the counterweight from the walking beam, said weight elements formed with slots to receive the supporting rods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LESTER KEIM. 

